Great Smoky Mountains National Park will stay open despite the government shutdown, supported by a community and state coalition, ensuring full visitor services until November 2.

Ohio inaugurates a new marina and nature center at Buck Creek State Park, enhancing the state's recreational offerings with educational and leisure activities for visitors.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore reopens after an unexpected power outage, thanks to the round-the-clock work of its facilities teams and contractors.

Carver County Parks announced winter program registration, offering a range of activities like skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and adventure camps. Sign-ups are easy via an app or online, encouraging outdoor fun for all ages and skill levels.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted new wildlife-related regulations, including compensation for livestock losses due to wolves and managed wild bison hunting.

Utah's general pheasant and quail hunting seasons begin on November 1. The Division of Wildlife Resources will release pen-reared birds for hunters, with Heather Talley advising hunters on best practices for success.

Michigan DNR seeks public input on Rockport Recreation Area's future through an online survey until November 21, aiming to shape the park's management plan.

Eldorado Canyon State Park has a new pedestrian bridge over South Boulder Creek, funded by public and private sources, to improve climber access and emergency response.

Michigan's DNR will permit a visually impaired fawn to stay at a specialized educational facility instead of releasing it into the wild due to its compromised survival ability.

Eight months after their last male gorilla died under anesthesia, the San Francisco Zoo is introducing Cecil—a Kentucky bachelor turned unlikely savior. The laid-back silverback arrives as the embattled zoo grapples with leadership chaos, frozen city funding, and a damning safety audit that called the 95-year-old facility "unsafe for animals and visitors."

North Las Vegas's "Paws in the Park" Halloween event returns on October 25 with a costume contest, activities, and services like vaccinations and microchipping.

Hawaii's humpback whale season starts early with sightings reported by Sea Maui Catamarans and Holo Holo Charters, prompting reminders for responsible whale watching.

The Great Northern Regional Trail will close from October 16-19 and again from November 8 to December 14 for deer hunting seasons to manage wildlife populations.